The Support You Need. The Settlement You Deserve.
Maison Law supports injured skateboarders hit by cars Glendale.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a skateboarding accident with a careless driver, the Personal Injury Attorneys at Maison Law can help.
Whether you’re skateboarding to work or cruising down the street for fun, knowing your rights as a skateboarder can protect you from liability after an accident.
Consult with a law firm that advocates on behalf of skateboarders and contact Maison Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
How a Glendale Skateboard Injury Lawyer Protects Skateboarders’ Rights
If you find yourself in a skateboard accident on the street with another vehicle in Glendale, the Personal Injury Lawyers at Maison Law can help. However, it is important to assess your injuries before consulting with a lawyer.
You most likely won’t need an attorney in a skateboarding accident if:
- The accident is minor with no apparent damage
- Your injuries are minor scrapes or small bruises
If your skateboarding accident has caused you serious injuries, resulting in missed time at work, treatment from a doctor, or prevented you from reasonably completing daily tasks, an attorney can advocate on your behalf and:
- Connect you to trusted doctors for continued treatment
- File a lawsuit to get you compensation for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Assign liability to all parties responsible for your injuries
- Communicate with insurance adjusters, so you can focus on recovering
- Build your case by gathering concrete evidence to confirm your claim
- Eliminate or reduce liability if you are blamed for the accident
- Negotiate a fair settlement
- Represent you in court if your case goes to trial
Glendale Skateboard Law
While skateboarders in Glendale can skateboard freely at several skateparks, skateboarding outside of them and around the city can be limiting. Compared to some cities in California like Los Angeles, Glendale is more restrictive when it comes to where skateboarders are permitted to ride. This is due to the state of California allowing individual cities to regulate their own skateboard laws.
According to Section 10.64.080 of Glendale Municipal Law, skateboarding, skating, and other coasting devices are NOT permitted to ride:
- On public roadways, allies, or sidewalks in any business district within the city
- In public parks, playgrounds, or recreation areas, except where the city has posted signs permitting the use
- Upon any city-owned or operated parking facility
- Upon the civic center complex
This law goes on to state that these rules do not apply to wheelchairs or bicycles and the term “skating or coasting devices” includes the following items:
- Skateboards
- Roller skates
- Scooters
- Rolling or wheeled devices self-propelled by humans
- Any motor or wind powered, coasting device
California Skateboard Law
California is a staple of skateboarding culture. The Golden State’s historic skateparks have given rise to some of the biggest names in skateboarding such as Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, and Bob Burnquist just to name a few. With these trailblazing individuals setting the tone for the skateboarding scene, millions of avid skateboarders have flocked to California to drop in on the state’s vibrant skateboarding scene.
With the meteoric rise in skateboarding popularity, California has had to institute state laws to keep skateboarders safe. These laws include:
- Skateboarders under the age of 18 are required by law to wear helmets at all times
- Must stop at stop signs and red lights
- Must yield to all vehicles at yield signs
- Skateboarders are required to yield to both marked and unmarked crosswalks
- Must not impede traffic or interfere with the flow of traffic
- Known as “skitching,” skateboarders cannot be towed by a motor vehicle or bicycle at an unsafe speed
- Skateboarders must yield to bicyclists in the bike lane
- Skateboarders cannot leave a curb or any roadside place of safety and travel in the path of a vehicle
Can Police Officers Stop Skateboarders?
California Law gives police officers the right to temporarily detain you if they have reasonable suspicion to believe you’ve done something wrong. Reasonable suspicion is based on directly observable evidence that shows you may be involved in misdemeanor or felony criminal activity. Even if the officer does not have an arrest warrant, they can stop based on reasonable suspicion alone.
Even though police officers can stop you, they are NOT allowed to restrain or cuff you. They can, however, block your path and instruct you to remain where you are. They are even allowed to “stop and frisk” you. This type of procedure is known as the “Terry stop,” named for the 1968 Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio. The Supreme Court ruled that a temporary detention based on reasonable suspicions is constitutional under the Fourth Amendment.
If you are stopped by an officer for reasonable suspicion, it is important to remember the officer must present evidence as to what gave them reasonable suspicion in court.
Comparative Negligence in a Glendale Skateboarding Accident
Comparative negligence is when more than one party is partially at fault for causing an injury and is covered under California Civil Code 1714. This law essentially states:
- You can recover damages in cases even if you are partially at fault
- If you and the defendant are found negligent, the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party
- The total compensation awarded to you is reduced by your percentage of fault
- If you are 99% at fault, you can still receive 1% of the total case value
In the case of a skateboarding accident, ultimately, fault will be determined by the details of the case and the judgment of a judge and jury if the matter goes to trial.
Let’s say, for example, a skateboarder goes down a ramp in their driveway and rolls into the street just as a car is speeding through their neighborhood. The skateboarder sufferers a head injury from the accident.
In this hypothetical situation, a jury may find the driver 80% at fault for speeding in a neighborhood. The skateboarder could then be found 20% at fault for skateboarding in the street when it is not prohibited in Glendale. So, if the jury awards the skateboarder $500,000, then their reward will be reduced by 20% of the fault.
How Maison Law Will Help You Win a Fair Settlement
At Maison Law, our firm will make sure to include future damages as part of your reward. We bolster future damages in your case through:
- Accurate damage calculation: we calculate damages based on expert testimony, medical evaluations, and economic analyses to cover every aspect of your current and long-term, medical needs.
- Clear reports and expert witness testimony: our firm compiles detailed reports that outline the extent of your injuries and the impact they will have on the rest of your life. We organize expert witness testimony to reinforce the credibility of your claim and the incident.
- Minimizing liability: if you file a claim or lawsuit against an at-fault party, they will most likely attempt to put some or all of the blame onto you. Our firm will analyze your case and work to minimize or eliminate liability in your personal injury accident.
- Negotiating with insurers: our experienced team of lawyers are expert negotiators and understand the tacts insurance companies will take to attempt to minimize your damages and compensation. We ensure our clients receive a fair settlement that fully covers their current and future needs.
- Court Representation: our trial lawyers will represent you in court and build a strong case, highlighting the depth of your injuries and the necessity for recovering damages.
How to Strengthen Your Glendale Skateboard Injury Claim
If you suffer an injury at a skatepark, seek medical attention immediately. Nothing is more important than your health. Call out to another skateboarder or an employee to help you get immediate medical attention. After you get medical care, it is recommended to:
- Report the injury to management. skatepark injuries are not uncommon and they require a prompt investigation. Reporting the injury will also help your case if you decide to file a premises liability claim against the property owner.
- Take your own photos of the scene and get witness statements. Hazardous conditions are removed very quickly to prevent more accidents, so it is important for you to capture the dangerous environment while it is still there.
- Follow up on your injuries with a doctor. Any injuries you’ve sustained from your accident will become a part of your case and you will need a doctor to corroborate your injuries.
- Contact Maison Law to protect your rights to compensation. Most accident victims find themselves overwhelmed by the incident and fail to realize the enormous impact a serious injury can have on their lives. Our experienced attorneys can help you understand your options and get you the compensation you need to make a full recovery.
California Skateboard Injury Statistics
Even with safety equipment, not every skateboarding injury is preventable. But one thing you can do is understand just how risky skateboarding is so you know what to expect and how to handle the aftermath of a skateboarding injury.
According to a study done by the National Library of Medicine, the average age for serious skateboarding injuries was 19 years old, with only 14% of all skateboarding injuries occurring in those 30 years and older. Additionally, 50% of all skateboarding injuries required emergency care.
In 2022, 230,506 people were treated in emergency rooms after being injured while skateboarding with 61,546 of those injuries occuring in skateboarders ages 15 to 24, according to the NSC.
According to the Semantic Scholar, neurosurgical intervention was needed in 14% of all skateboarding head-related injuries. Unfortunately, even with helmets, head injuries in skateboarding are still prevalent with 75% of all hospital-admitted skateboarding accidents being head injuries.
According to world-famous skateboarder Tony Hawk who has suffered hundreds of skateboarding injuries, his worst skateboarding injury was a broken femur. This particular injury has resulted in numerous complications and took him away from any physical activity for almost a year.
If you or a loved one has suffered a skateboarding injury that has required medical treatment or missed time at work, contact Maison Law to protect your right to compensation.
Common Skateboarding Injuries
Skateboarding is a physical activity that involves moving fast and catching air over hard surfaces. The combination of high speeds, metal, and concrete ledges, injuries are common hardships shared by all skateboarders, ranging from minor cuts, and broken bones, to catastrophic brain injuries. Some of the most common skateboarding injuries include:
- Nose fractures: a nose fracture involves a break in the nose bone. It often occurs due to direct impact or force applied to the nose, for example, when a skateboarder falls and hits their nose on the ground.
- Cheek fractures: a cheek fracture is a break in the cheekbone resulting from blunt force trauma to the face. Skateboarders will often overlook a cheekbone fracture as they’ll experience pain and facial bruising without realizing something is broken. For that reason, it is important to seek medical attention for any facial injuries.
- Lacerations: this injury occurs when the skin is cut or torn. It can occur when a skateboarder falls and hits their skin on a rough surface. These can range from minor cuts to deep gashes. It is essential to clean the wound immediately to avoid infection.
- Broken Teeth: broken teeth occur when a skateboarder falls and hits their mouth on the ground, or their skateboard. Teeth injuries range from small chips to complete tooth fractures. Tooth treatment can be extensive and requires root canal treatment in severe cases.
- Plantar Fasciitis: plantar fasciitis is a condition that occurs due to the irritation or inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the base of a skateboarder’s toes. This injury commonly occurs in skateboarders due to the intense, gripping motion of the toes while skating and poor calf strength.
- Head injuries and Concussions: skateboarding can lead to serious falls that may result in head injuries. There are two types of head injuries that can occur: closed and open. Closed head injuries do not break the skull, while open or penetrating head injuries when an impact breaks the skull and enters the brain. These injuries require immediate medical attention and can have severe consequences on a person’s motor skills and ability to function normally throughout their daily lives.
- Broken Bones: broken bones are common in skateboarding, mostly because skateboarders are gliding over concrete at high speeds while riding bowls or going for big air on a half-pipe. The most common bones skateboarders break include the wrist, ankle, elbow, arms, and legs. As most skateboarders know, the bigger the ramp, the bigger the risk.
Contact a California Skateboard Injury Lawyer
Skateboarders have a bad reputation with the law. They’re often viewed as nuisances or trouble-makers, so when they’re injured, most people’s response is to place blame onto the skateboarders. But at Maison Law, we understand the rights of skateboarders and will fight to protect them.
On the road, skateboarders are offered practically no protection from serious hazards, making them far more likely to be seriously injured in an accident, or in worse cases, killed. That’s why having an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer on your side is vital to your compensation.
Maison Law will aggressively pursue liable parties to recover the maximum amount of damages you’re owed after your accident. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action. Contact us today for a no-cost, confidential consultation to see what legal options are available for your situation.
